updated 10:45 am EDT, Wed April 9, 2014

Samsung Gear Solo may be smart watch with own cellular access

Samsung's smart watch with cellular connectivity is apparently called the Gear Solo, according to reports. Continuing earlier rumors, the device being worked on between the manufacturer and SK Telecom is said to have its own cellular radio, allowing it to work as a standalone device using its own SIM card instead of connecting to a smartphone.

The Korea Heraldclaims the device will be able to make and receive calls by itself, with the device initially being made available in South Korea with a view to an overseas release. A filing at the Korean Intellectual Property Office states that Samsung has filed for the Gear Solo name, though there is still a chance it will change before its launch.

Samsung Gear 2

Samsung has so far launched four different Gear smartwatch devices. The original Galaxy Gear, launched last year, is an Android device that caused a mixed reaction from reviewers and the public. Before Mobile World Congress, the manufacturer revealed an updated model called the Gear 2, making important changes such as shifting the camera from the strap to the watch body, while a second Gear 2 Neo is a similar smart watch but without a camera. A third device, the Gear Fit, opts for a thinner, curved screen and a focus on fitness.